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Nittany Lions in the NFL - Week 1

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A total of 40 Penn State alums are populating the rosters of 23 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions are perennially a top-20 program in producing players in the NFL. Each week throughout the year, GoPSUsports.com provides updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats.
 
The NFL is back for its 2020 season and 27 Nittany Lions suited up for the opening week. Wide receivers Chris Godwin (Buccaneers) and Allen Robinson II (Bears) both stood out with 70-plus yard receiving days, while safety Troy Apke led Penn Staters on the other side of the ball with eight tackles. Additionally, veteran kicker Robbie Gould (49ers) made a 52-yard field goal in his 16th NFL opener.
 
Cornerback John Reid (Texans) made six tackles Thursday night to lead a trio of Penn State rookies who made their NFL debuts over the weekend. Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (Panthers) assisted on a tackle in his debut Sunday, while special teams ace Dan Chisena (Vikings) saw action on special teams.
 
Marcus Allen (2014-17) LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 26, Giants 16
Allen saw limited action on special teams.

Adrian Amos (2011-14) S, Green Bay Packers
Packers 43, Vikings 34
Amos started and made two tackles.

Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Football Team
Washington 27, Eagles 17
Apke started and tied for the team lead with a career-high eight total tackles, including four solo stops.

Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Steelers 26, Giants 16
Barkley had six receptions for 60 yards out of the backfield, which included a pair of his trademark hurdle plays.


Ryan Bates (2015-18) OT, Buffalo Bills
Bills 27, Jets 17
In addition to limited action on special teams, Bates ran a pass route as a reported-eligible tackle in a Bills goal line package. Bates was well covered on the play, so quarterback Josh Allen ran into the end zone himself. However, Allen generously let Bates spike the football to celebrate the team's first touchdown of the year.

 
Nick Bowers (2015-19) TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Raiders 34, Panthers 30
Bowers is on the Raiders practice squad.
 
Cam Brown (2016-19) LB, New York Giants
Steelers 26, Giants 16
Brown was inactive against the Steelers.

Jason Cabinda (2014-17) LB/FB, Detroit Lions
Bears 27, Lions 23
Cabinda started against the Bears as a fullback and saw 14 snaps in the role on offense in addition to duties on special teams. In the first quarter, he cleared the way for a 19-yard run by Adrian Peterson.

 
Dan Chisena (2015, 18-19) WR, Minnesota Vikings
Packers 43, Vikings 34
Chisena saw action on special teams in his NFL debut.

Jack Crawford (2008-11) DT, Tennessee Titans
Titans 16, Broncos 14
Crawford saw action on special teams and defense in his Titans debut.
 
Sam Ficken (2011-14) K, New York Jets
Bills 27, Jets 17
Ficken converted his lone field goal attempt and both extra point opportunities.

Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Patriots 21, Dolphins 11
Gesicki started against the Patriots and had three receptions for 30 yards.
 
Blake Gillikin (2016-19) P, New Orleans Saints
Saints 34, Buccaneers 23
Gillikin has been placed on the injured reserve list due to a back injury.

Kevin Givens (2015-18) DT, San Francisco 49ers
Cardinals 24, 49ers 20
Givens made a tackle, limiting Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray to a 1-yard gain.

Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Saints 34, Buccaneers 23
Godwin caught new quarterback Tom Brady's first completion as a Buccaneer and was Bucs' top receiver of the day, as he had six receptions for 79 yards. Three of his catches were for first downs and two of those were for more than 20 yards. He also made a tackle following an interception.


Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
Cardinals 24, 49ers 20
Gould successfully converted two field goal attempts, including a 52-yarder, and both of his extra point attempts.
 
Yetur Gross-Matos (2017-19) DE, Carolina Panthers
Raiders 34, Panthers 30
Gross-Matos made one assisted tackle in his NFL Debut.
 
DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) WR, Denver Broncos
Titans 16, Broncos 14
Hamilton had one reception for 18 yards.
 
KJ Hamler (2017-19) WR, Denver Broncos
Titans 16, Broncos 14
Hamler was inactive against the Titans due to injury.

Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New York Jets
Bills 27, Jets 17
Hogan was targeted four times, but was limited to one reception for no gain.

Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Detroit Lions
Bears 27, Lions 23
James played half of the game's snaps on offense and saw action on special teams.

Austin Johnson (2012-15) NT, New York Giants 
Steelers 26, Giants 16
Johnson saw limited action on defense and special teams in his Giants debut.

DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans 
Titans 16, Broncos 14
Jones made one solo tackle and one assisted tackle.
 
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) OLB, Dallas Cowboys
Rams 20, Cowboys 17
Lee is on injured reserve.

Jordan Lucas (2012-15) SS, Chicago Bears
Bears 28, Lions 23
Lucas has opted out of the 2020 season due to Covid-19.

Connor McGovern (2016-18) OG, Dallas Cowboys
Rams 20, Cowboys 17
McGovern was inactive against the Rams.
 
Shareef Miller (2015-18) DE, Carolina Panthers
Raiders 34, Panthers 30
Miller was inactive against the Raiders.

Trace McSorley (2014-18) QB, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens 38, Browns 6
McSorley was inactive against the Browns.

Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Las Vegas Raiders
Raiders 34, Panthers 30
Nassib made two tackles and a half sack. He also had two quarterback hits in his Raiders debut.

Amani Oruwariye (2014-18) CB, Detroit Lions
Bears 27, Lions 23
Oruwariye made four solo tackles, including one of Penn State alum Allen Robinson II.
 
John Reid (2015-19) CB, Houston Texans
Chiefs 34, Texans 20
Reid made five solo tackles on defense and one on special teams in his NFL Debut.

Allen Robinson II (2011-13) WR, Chicago Bears
Bears 27, Lions 23
Robinson started against the Lions and had five receptions for 72 yards, including a spectacular, diving 22-yard grab. Three of his grabs were for first downs and two were for more than 20 yards.


Miles Sanders (2016-18) RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Washington 27, Eagles 17
Sanders was out for Week 1 due to a hamstring injury.

Nick Scott (2014-18) S, Los Angeles Rams
Rams 20, Cowboys 17
Scott saw extensive action on special teams.

A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Saints 34, Buccaneers 23
Shipley was active, but did not play in Week 1 against the Saints.
 
Donovan Smith (2012-13) OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Saints 34, Buccaneers 23
Smith started and played every snap as he opened his sixth season with the Bucs.
 
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, New York Jets
Bills 27, Jets 17
Travis is on the Jets practice squad.
 
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Philadelphia Eagles
Washington 27, Eagles 17
Williams is on the Eagles practice squad.
 
Robert Windsor (2015-19) DT, Indianapolis Colts
Jaguars 27, Colts 20
Windsor is on the Colts practice squad.
 
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) OG, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers 26, Giants 16
Wisniewski started against the Giants in his Steelers debut and helped them rack up 349 yards of total offense, but he left the game in the fourth quarter due to an injury.